| Date: September 17, 2006
| Venue: Air Canada Centre | City: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| Attendance: 16, 105 | Buys: 307,000
| Brand: Raw

| tweet me: @BastionBlogger

Unforgiven returns for a 9th year and in the main event the WWE Championship will be on the line. Edge walks in as champion having beaten Rob Van Dam for the title a couple of months ago and he has a familiar foe challenging for the belt in John Cena. John Cena made the challenge, telling Edge that if he lost this match then Cena would leave Raw and join Smackdown. Edge agreed to the challenge but only if the match would take place at Unforgiven in Edge’s hometown of Toronto and if Edge could pick the stipulation. Edge picked a TLC match, a match type that Edge has never lost before and so the match has been set.

The Intercontinental Championship is set to be defended as Johnny Nitro defends against Jeff Hardy. Jeff returned to the WWE a few weeks ago and immediately targeted Nitro, demonstrating that it was more interesting watching paint dry than listen to Nitro. Hardy would continue this by painting a masterpiece and getting into a paint fight with Nitro before Hardy beat Randy Orton to become number one contender to the Intercontinental Championship. The Spirit Squad will be defending their World Tag Team Championships against number one contenders The Highlanders who beat Murdoch and Cade and Viscera & Charlie Haas. The Highlanders have only lost one match since their debut and that match was to The Spirit Squad. Tonight they get another chance at the champions.

The other title on Raw, the WWE Women’s Championship is also set to be defended. Lita beat Mickie James for the title a few weeks ago on Raw and tonight she goes one on one against the biggest rival in her career, Trish Stratus. The twist in this tale though is that Stratus will be wrestling her very last match at Unforgiven as she has announced that she will be retiring. Lita let the cat out of the bag before Trish could announce it and somebody that upset was Carlito. Carlito and Trish have been close as of late but Carlito has his own problems with Randy Orton. Carlito and Orton go one on one tonight. Also tonight will be a battle of the monsters as the undefeated Umaga takes on Kane.

At Summerslam Triple H and Shawn Michaels defeated Vince and Shane McMahon. Neither team are finished with the other though as Vince and Shane have upped the ante by telling DX that they will be teaming up against the McMahons again but this time Vince and Shane will be joined by The Big Show and this time the match will take place inside Hell In A Cell.

In a dark match prior to the event Super Crazy (who recently debuted on Raw following his Smackdown contract expiring) defeated Shelton Benjamin.

A video package kicks us off highlighting the DX/McMahons match and the Edge/John Cena match.

Jim Ross then welcomes us to Toronto, Canada. JR is joined by Jerry “The King” Lawler.

Johnny Nitro (c) vs. Jeff Hardy – Intercontinental Championship match

This is a first time PPV meeting between these two men. Nitro makes his Unforgiven debut tonight but Jeff Hardy has a 1-1 record at the event having won and lost in tag team action. Nitro has Melina in his corner. Jeff has dreadlocks which is different for him. Nitro hits an arm drag in the early going and a “Nitro sucks” chant breaks out. Hardy takes Nitro down with a shoulder barge and then after a bit of a miscommunication Jeff hits another arm drag. Jeff hits a third arm drag and keeps the armbar locked on. Jeff hits a fourth arm drag and keeps the arm bar locked on again. Nitro gets out of that and clubs Jeff down to the mat. Jeff rolls Nitro up for the first near fall of the night and then immediately hits another arm drag. Nitro hits a couple of uppercuts and tries for a neckbreaker but that gets countered into a backslide and near fall.

Jeff hits a legdrop which sends Nitro rolling to the outside. Nitro gets back in the ring and clubs Hardy down to his knees before hitting him with an Irish whip and some right hands. Jeff hits a dropkick and then some big right hands in the corner and then another dropkick. Hardy heads to the top but Nitro rolls out of the ring. Hardy then hits Nitro with a baseball slide. Jeff nips up to the barricade, runs across it and takes Nitro out with a flying clothesline! Hardy then heads to the top but Nitro dropkicks him, sending Hardy to the mat. Nitro works on Hardy’s left leg. Only Jeff’s brother Matt has wrestled more PPV matches than Jeff without main eventing. Hardy fights back with some right hands but misses with an enzeguri. Nitro then smashes Jeff’s left leg into the canvas for a near fall. Nitro continues to work Hardy’s left leg and gets a near fall along the way. Nitro heads to the top and attempts a corkscrew moonsault but Jeff Hardy rolls out of the way! Jeff hits a legdrop into a pin but Nitro kicks out at 2. It’s advantage Hardy now as he hits right hands.

There’s more miscommunication until Jeff hits whisper in the wind for a near fall. Nitro pops Hardy on the top and tries for a hurricanrana but Hardy holds onto the ropes and Nitro falls down to the mar. Hardy then hits the swanton bomb and slowly crawls over, cover Nitro but only gets a 2 because Nitro gets his foot on the bottom rope. Jeff is very popular in this match. Nitro rolls through a sunset flip and applies an ankle lock but Hardy gets to the ropes. Jeff hits a mule kick and then tries for the twist of fate but Nitro counters it and applies a leglock. Jeff gets to the bottom rope once again and gets to his feet, knocking Nitro into Melina before rolling Nitro up for a near fall. Nitro heads to the top and tries for a hurricanrana but Hardy counters it with a powerbomb. Melina then smashes her boot into Hardy’s face! Nitro covers Hardy and gets the 3! Johnny Nitro wins the match with a lot of help from Melina!

Rating: 6.75/10

We get a shot of Teddy Long up in one of the skyboxes. He’s waiting to see if John Cena will be joining Smackdown.

Matt Hardy consoles Jeff backstage when Lita arrives. The old Team XTreme are back together. Lita tells Jeff he would be a champion if he wasn’t such a screw-up. Lita then says that Matt can watch Lita beat Trish Stratus and then watched Edge beat John Cena later.

Kane vs. Umaga

This is a first time meeting between these two men on PPV. Jim Ross claims that this is Umaga’s PPV debut. It really isn’t. As Jamal, Umaga has a 1-0 record at Unforgiven PPV’s. Kane has a 3-4 record at Unforgiven PPV’s. Armando Estrada is present and runs down Kane before the match, saying that he isn’t a monster. Kane lays into Umaga with some big right hands as the bell rings. The two men then slug it out before Kane hits a big boot which doesn’t knock Umaga down. Umaga hits a spinning heel kick and then clotheslines Kane out of the ring. Umaga has a 2-0 record on PPV going into this match, a win tonight would tie him with Max Mini who has the best PPV record of all time with 3 wins and 0 losses. Back in the ring and Umaga hits a falling headbutt and then some right hands. Umaga then hits a modified shining wizard to the chest of Kane before going back to some right hands. Umaga then hits his running butt bump in the corner and Kane isn’t looking too good.

Estrada gets up on the apron and breaks his cigar so Umaga attempts his Samoan spike but Kane hits him with a right hand before he can. Kane hits a big boot and then some rights, lefts and a couple of clotheslines. Kane can’t get Umaga down though and ends up running into a Samoan drop. Umaga then motions for the Samoan spike but heads to the middle rope and tries for a flying Samoan spike to a grounded Kane but Kane sits up! Kane then heads to the top and knocks Umaga down with a flying clothesline. Kane motions for a chokeslam and grabs Umaga by the throat but Umaga attempts the spike only for Kane to hit a few headbutts. Kane then dumps Umaga right out of the ring! Kane clotheslines Umaga into the crowd where the two men slug it out! The bell then rings as both men have been counted out! The two men continue to fight all the way up to the stage and then the backstage area! This match goes down as a draw!

Rating: 5/10

Vince McMahon is backstage with Shane McMahon watching footage of him beating Triple H on Raw. Vince wants to know where Big Show is and Shane tells him Big show is down the hall. Vince is confident that he will be kicking ass and making the pin tonight.

The Spirit Squad (Kenny & Mikey) (c) vs. The Highlanders (Rory & Robbie) – World Tag Team Championship Match

This is a PPV debut for The Highlanders and Unforgiven debuts for everyone involved in this match. Rory and Mikey start the match and Rory hits a quick sunset flip. Rory and Robbie make a couple of quick tags with both Highlanders coming off the top rope. Robbie gets a near fall and Mikey tags out to Kenny. Robbie hits a back body drop and a powerslam on Kenny before tagging back out to Rory. Rory throws Robbie into Kenny and The Highlanders continue to make quick tags. Robbie hits a knee drop on Kenny and then tags out to Rory who also hits a knee drop on Kenny for a near fall. Rory tag Robbie and Kenny tags out to Mikey but the challengers hit a double drop toe hold on Mikey. Robbie applies an armlock but Mikey forces Robbie into his corner and tags out to Kenny. Robbie dropkicks Kenny out of the ring but then misses with a suicide dive. Kenny distracts the referee which allows the other three members of the Spirit Squad to triple team Robbie.

Kenny gets a near fall and tags out to Mikey who hits a big clothesline on Robbie for a near fall. Mikey tags Kenny and they hit a double moonsault on Robbie for a near fall. Kenny applies a chinlock but Robbie gets out of it just for Kenny to hit a clothesline. Kenny tags in Mikey who Kenny springboards into Robbie. Mikey applies a front face lock and then tags in Kenny but Mikey misses with a splash in the corner on Robbie. Kenny makes sure Robbie can’t tag out and The Spirit Squad then hit a Hart Attack on Robbie for a near fall. Mikey tag in Kenny who hits a swinging neckbreaker and then takes a cheap shot on Rory. Kenny then goes up top and attempts his legdrop but Rory pulls Robbie out of the way! Kenny tags Mikey and Robbie tags Rory! Rory lays into Mikey with right hands and a flapjack. Rory then throws Kenny into the rest of the Spirit Squad. The Highlanders hit a springboard reverse suplex and then hook the leg but Kenny breaks up the pin.

In all the commotion Johnny hits a karate kick on Rory and Mikey takes Rory down with a facebuster which is enough for the three! The Spirit Squad win the match and retain their world tag team championships! Not a bad match between these two teams.

Rating: 5.5/10

There’s a video package next for DX and the McMahons.

D-Generation X (Triple H & Shawn Michaels) vs. Vince McMahon, Shane McMahon and The Big Show – Hell In A Cell match

This is a first time handicap match involving these five men. In terms of Unforgiven records, Triple H is 5-1 having won singles matches against the likes of Kurt Angle, Randy Orton and Owen Hart. Shawn Michaels is 2-1, Big Show is 1-2, Shane McMahon is 0-1 and Vince McMahon makes his Unforgiven debut. Shawn Michaels and Triple H hit a double low blow on Big Show as the bell rings before taking a McMahon each. Michaels smashes Shane into the top turnbuckle as Triple H lays into Vince. Michaels then throws Shane over the top rope and Vince rolls out to join his son. Michaels and Triple H then hit another double low blow on Big Show. Michaels runs Shane into the ringpost and then into the cell. Triple H lays into Vince with some right hands and Michaels does the same with Shane. Shane is now busted open on his forehead. Triple H smashes Vince into the side of the cage. Shawn hits some big right hands to Shane as Triple H does the same to Vince, busting him open and then grating his face along the cell.

Michaels launches Shane into the side of the cage. Triple H then jabs a screwdriver into the top of Vince’s bloody head. Big Show is still laying in the corner holding his crotch. Back in the ring Triple H hits Vince with a slam but Big Show gets up, lays out Triple H and then slams Shawn Michaels. Big Show throws Triple H out of the ring into a puddle of Vince McMahons blood. Big Show goes out and Michaels attempts to dive out at Show who catches him. Triple H pulls Michaels down and DX push Big Show into the side of the cell and then into the ring steps. DX looking to be the first babyfaces to win tonight. Shawn Michaels and Big Show both looking to be the first men to have won at the 2005 Unforgiven event and this one. Big Show is back in the ring and hits headbutts on both opponents. Shane clotheslines Michaels out of the ring. Big Show hits some more big headbutts on Triple H. Shane hits a big kick on Triple H and Big Show follows it up with another headbutt.

Big Show hits a big clothesline on Triple H but nobody chooses to pin him. Show goes out to Shawn Michaels, hits him with a headbutt and then a reverse powerbomb type move into the side of the cage. Vince and Shane take it in turn to take shots at Triple H. Michaels is now bleeding as Big Show throws him head first into the side of the cell. Shane pulls a trash can out from under the ring and slides it into the ropes in front of Triple H who is laid out in the corner. Shane then heads to the other side of the ring, climbs to the top, gives Triple H the crotch chop and then hits coast to coast! Triple H is bleeding from his ear now. Big Show pulls Shawn Michaels back into the ring and Vince lays into Michaels with some jabs. Remember it was the feud between Vince McMahon and Shawn Michaels where this all began. Shane drops Triple H with a clothesline on the outside before slingshotting Triple H into the side of the cage! Big Show hits Shawn Michaels with a Vader bomb and Vince then covers Michaels but pulls him up at 2 saying he’s going to teach him a lesson.

Big Show hits a backbreaker on Michaels whilst keeping a cobra clutch applied. Show hits a standing legdrop and Vince covers Michaels and once again pulls him up at 2. Triple H gets back in the ring and disposes of Big Show. He hits a facebuster to Vince and then sets up for the Pedigree but Shane breaks it up and then gets Triple H up on his shoulders and hits Triple H with a neckbreaker! Everyone is now down! Michaels and Shane are first up and Michaels kicks Shane out of the ring with an enzeguri! Vince then takes Michaels down with a clothesline and tells Big Show to finish Michaels off. Vince then pulls down his pants but Triple H gets in the ring and lays Vince out! Big Show then takes Triple H down with a right hand before hitting Shawn Michaels with a powerslam. Vince then holds Michaels for Big Show but Michaels pulls Vince in the way and Big Show squashes Vince with a splash! DX then crotch Big Show around the ringpost which just leaves Shane in the ring.

DX take it in turns to hit Shane with right hands. Michaels hits a flying forearm on Shane, an inverted atomic drop and then Triple H hits Shane with a spinebuster. Helmsley grabs a couple of chairs, putting one of then around Shane McMahons neck and Michaels comes off the top with an elbow drop! Big Show drags Michaels out of the ring and then drops Triple H on the top rope. Show puts some steps in the ring and holds then above his head but Triple H smashes him with a steel chair and then smashes the chair into the ringsteps laying on Big Shows head. Big Show is bleeding now. Michaels hits Big Show with sweet chin music, leaving him laying across the top rope. DX then pull Big Shows tights down before ramming Vince’s head up Big Shows ass! Triple H grabs his trusty sledgehammer from under the ring, Michaels hits Vince with sweet chin music and Triple H smashes his sledgehammer across Vince’s back! Triple H pins Vince and it is all over. DX beat Vince, Shane and Big Show tonight in one hell of a match!

Rating: 8.25/10

There’s a VT up next showing the history of Trish Stratus and her feud with Lita.

Lita (c) vs. Trish Stratus – WWE Women’s Championship match

Trish has a 2-0 record over Lita on PPV. Trish has a 4-0 record at Unforgiven PPV’s, Lita has a 1-0 record. The match starts and Trish takes Lita down with a clothesline. Trish then hits a flying head scissors sending Lita to the outside. On the outside Trish dives off the apron with a Lou Thesz press. Lita was injured herself doing that move on Trish. Trish hits a head scissors on Lita off the steps. Trish is by far the best competitor in WWE history up to now. Back in the ring and Lita lays into Trish, slamming her face off the mat. This is of course in Trish’s hometown in Toronto. Lita chokes Trish on the ropes and then hits her with a knee drop. Lita hits a snapmare and then applies a sleeper. Trish gets back up to her feet but Trish takes her right back down with a pull of the hair.

Lita smashes Trish into the top turnbuckle and then hits her with some kicks. Trish gains some momentum and chokes Lita with her boot before hitting some chops. Trish hits a splash in the corner but then runs into an elbow. Trish attempts her head scissors off the top but Lita puts the brakes on and both girls end up falling out of the ring. Lita heads to the top but Trish meets her up there only for Lita to throw Trish back into the ring by her hair. Lita goes back up top and attempts a moonsault but Trish rolls out of the way. Trish gets a near fall and then attempts the Stratus faction but Lita throws Stratus out of the ring. That was not a smooth landing. Lita rolls Trish back into the ring and gets a near fall. Lita hits a snap suplex for another near fall and then kicks Trish hard in the ribs. Trish fights back with some right hands but Lita hits a side Russian leg sweep and a few right hands for a near fall. Lita applies a sleeper but Trish gets out of it and the two girls slug it out.

Trish hits her trademark hurricanrana off the second rope and then knocks Lita out with the chick kick! Trish hooks the leg but Lita kicks out at 2! Trish tries for Stratusfaction but Lita counters it only for Trish to counter it into a sharpshooter! The crowd get up on their feet and Lita taps out! Trish Stratus wins the match and the Women’s Championship in her final match! Great match between these two girls to end the rivalry, the war and Trish Stratus’ WWE career. Lilian Garcia is in tears. Everybody in the arena is on their feet.

Rating: 7/10

Todd Grisham is backstage with Randy Orton. Randy congratulates Trish but says that nobody cares about her retirement. And then calls her a bitch.

Carlito vs. Randy Orton

This is a first PPV meeting between these two men. Randy has a 1-1 record at Unforgiven PPV’s, Carlito has a 0-1 record. Carlito spits in the face of Randy Orton early on as the two men start aggressively. Carlito ducks a clothesline, Randy ducks a springboard moonsault and Carlito takes Randy down with a dropkick for a near fall. Orton gets back into it with a thumb to the eye and then hits Carlito with some big right hands. The two men then slug it out with right hands and chops until Carlito hits a slam and a springboard moonsault for a near fall. Randy is bleeding from the mouth now. Orton dropkicks Carlito to the outside before rolling him back into the ring for a near fall. Randy stomps away at Carlito before hitting a knee drop for a two count. Orton applies a sleeper which Carlito gets out of but Orton takes him down with a powerslam for a near fall. Orton then goes back to the chinlock which Carlito gets out of again and this time ground Orton with a springboard back elbow, a clothesline and then a running knee. Carlito gets a near fall and then hits a facebuster for another near fall.

Orton gets back into it with a backbreaker and then motions for an RKO but Carlito counters it into a backcracker! Orton reverses an Irish whip and then runs into Carlito’s boot. Carlito then springboards off the top rope but Orton catches him with RKO out of nowhere! He hooks the leg and gets the 3! Orton wins! Not a great match between these two. Not a lot of chemistry.

Rating: 4/10

There’s a video package up next for Edge and John Cena.

Edge (c) vs. John Cena – WWE Championship match

These two men have met on PPV three times before and Edge is currently up 2-1. In terms of Unforgiven records, John Cena is 0-1 whilst Edge is 0-5. Edge gets a massive ovation being in his hometown. He doesn’t have Lita with him following her defeat earlier. Big “Cena sucks” chants. Cena starts with a headlock to boo’s from the crowd. Edge gets out of it but Cena knocks Edge down with a shoulder charge. Cena hits another two shoulder charges on Edge and then takes Edge down with a spear following a slap from the WWE Champion. Edge hits a neckbreaker and then rolls out of the ring, grabs a chair, jabs it into Cena before swinging it at him but missing. Cena throws Edge back into the ring and takes him down with a fishermans suplex. Cena misses with a splash in the corner and Edge takes him down with an impaler DDT. Edge then drives Cena into a couple of chairs he previously set up in the ring. Edge exits the ring and grabs a ladder, setting it up in the middle of the ring and climbing it. Cena pushes him off but Edge lands on his feet and drops Cena with a clothesline.

Edge dropkicks a ladder into Cena’s face and then runs at Cena with a ladder but Cena moves. Cena then hiptosses Edge into the ladder. Cena then crotches Edge on the top rope and slides a table into the ring. John sets up the table and looks to suplex Edge through it but Edge counters it into a sunset flip powerbomb but they’re miles away from the table. Edge then powerslams Cena through the table. Cena rolls to the outside and Edge dives out at him before rolling John back into the ring. Edge looks to hit a con-chair-to on Cena but Cena hits a drop toe hold and then a bulldog on the chair. Cena places Edge in a ladder and locks the STFU on to which Edge taps out but submissions do not count in this match. Cena drives a ladder into Edge’s face before setting up a ladder, climbing it and hitting a 5 knuckle shuffle off the top of the ladder! Cena sets up another table but turns around into a chair shot! Edge then sets Cena up on a table with another table on top of him and climbs to the top but Cena gets up and smashes Edge off the top turnbuckle to the floor below! Cena climbs up a ladder but Edge climbs another and spear Cena right off the ladder! Edge is up first and climbs a ladder but sees Cena and hits a cross body but Cena catches him!

Cena powerbombs Edge into another ladder! Cena then sets up another ladder in the middle of the ring and climbs up it. He reaches the top and grabs the WWE title belt but Lita shows up and pushes the ladder over, sending Cena out of the ring and through a table on the outside! Edge gets back in the ring and climbs up a ladder but Cena gets to his feet. Lita gets back in the ring and smashes Cena with a chair but Cena falls right into the ladder which sends Edge crashing over the top through two tables! Cena takes Lita out with an FU! Cena sets back up the tables he knocked over and then climbs up a big ladder. Edge gets back to his feet and meets Cena at the top of the ladder where the two men slug it out. Cena then gets Edge up on his shoulders and hits an FU all the way down through the two tables below! Cena reacher the title and wins the match!

Rating: 7.5/10

And that was Unforgiven 2006. It was a pay per view with a lot of quality, a bit of average and nothing terrible. I enjoyed the opening match, Nitro and Jeff Hardy have a lot of chemistry and I think they have the potential to put on a really special match. This was still good and Nitro comes away with his title. It’s nice to have Jeff Hardy back though and his merchandise sales are always extremely high so maybe this time, if he can stay clean, he’ll have a really successful singles run. I don’t think this feud will end here, the two can continue to battle over the Intercontinental Championship and as well as guys like Shelton Benjamin and Carlito, this division is starting to really shape up. Kane and Umaga was ok, it was the battle of the monsters and it ended in a double count out. This gives the feud time to breathe and carry on. Umaga continues to be undefeated and I can only see him beating Kane again in the future.

The Spirit Squad retained their World Tag Team Championships beating The Highlanders. This was pretty average. The Spirit Squad are quite entertaining as champions, I don’t mind them with the belts. I can’t see The Highlanders becoming champions anytime soon, they’re a bit of a joke. But they are a “proper” tag team which I like, you don’t see many of them these days. There are a few other tag teams in the division, mostly heels, so I have no idea who The Spirit Squad will defend against next unless it’s DX. Speaking of DX, they were victorious in an entertaining Hell In A Cell match. It was a really fun match and the ending with Vince McMahons whole head being shoved up Big Show’s arse was something else. This will probably be the last match between these two teams, I can see DX moving on to the tag team division whilst The McMahons continue to make life difficult for them.

Trish Stratus defeated Lita in the best match those two girls have had against each other. This presumably means that Trish will retire with the belt (unless it’s a total heel move and she doesn’t really retire). If she is gone then she goes down as the greatest female competitor the company has ever seen by some way. I’m nit sure how they will decide a new champion but you can be sure the likes of Lita and Mickie James will be involved. I like that Trish won and retires with the belt, it is well deserved. Randy Orton beat Carlito cleanly in an ok match. There wasn’t a lot of chemistry between the two but Orton wins and was the right winner in my opinion. This will probably end the feud, both men can move on to different opponents as it does seem a bit like they were thrown together because they weren’t doing anything else. Then in the main event John Cena beat Edge to become a three time WWE Champion. I liked this match, these two men can both go and do have a lot of chemistry. I liked the spot at the end with Edge going through two ladders and Cena grabbing the belt. Cena is the poster-boy and has the title again but he carrier the company well and even though most fans are sick of him, I don’t mind him as champion.

Overall Rating: 62.85/100 (ranked 44th out of 199)

Match Of The Night: Triple H & Shawn Michaels vs. Vince, Shane & The Big Show
Worst Match Of The Night: Carlito vs. Randy Orton
Surprise Of The Night: Trish retires with the WWE Women’s Championship
Worst Booking Of The Night: N/A
Superstar Of The Night: John Cena
Unforgiven 2006 Will Be Remembered For: John Cena winning the WWE Championship in TLC